Beer Guy finds on-screen role in Asheville Web "beer opera"

Nov. 2, 2010

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ASHEVILLE — The Beer Guy thinks of himself in many ways: a historian of the Asheville brew scene, a teller of stories, perhaps a bon vivant (look it up).

But an actor? Never. And certainly not as “an older gentleman with an air of authority.” Although the older part probably is accurate.

Anyway, that's how The Beer Guy character is billed in the new Internet TV serial “Brewing in Asheville,” which begins shooting this week, with the first episode to be set at Asheville Pizza and Brewing on Merrimon Avenue.

It's a five-minute weekly story (a “beer opera”?) set at the local breweries, where a gang of friends convenes to hash out their lives and drink a few beers.

I was persuaded to play myself — or a variation of the Beer Guy — in one of my rare forays into cinematic performance.

When the script arrived, I gulped at that “older gentleman” thing but dutifully began to study my lines, such as they are.

“Play it like you're Matlock,” my pal Mike Rangel, owner of Asheville Brewing, suggested. Not a bad idea. Better than the Goober of beer anyway.

In the first show, there's one character who wants to drink a ladies cocktail rather than a beer (and the fictional Beer Guy is aghast!).

Another character is just getting divorced after an unhappy marriage and has arrived to celebrate her freedom. Hopefully, I get to raise a pint in celebration.

The Beer Guy likely won't be winning any awards for acting excellence, but this project is sure to promote the local beer scene in a new way. The series premieres Nov. 11 at www.brewinginasheville.net, so log on and watch.

Bow wow wow

We're usually celebrating craft beer in this space. But good old Pabst Blue Ribbon gets its day in the sun on Nov. 13 at the Universal Joint restaurant and bar at 784 Haywood Road in West Asheville.

It's hosting an event called PBR for Pups — just buy some Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, and proceeds will benefit the Asheville Humane Society.

It will also have PBR for Pups T-shirts and hats for sale. And there's a raffle with various prizes by local and national businesses. And yes, you can adopt a pooch, too.

U-Joint manager Jason Alison first did this event in Atlanta and then brought it to the mountains.

Now, it's going national, with PBR for Pups events that same weekend in Atlanta and Dallas. It's a fun way to help a good cause.